Orchard & Shipman
On Thursday 3rd November, Bedford Borough Council and
property group, Orchard & Shipman, signed a contract to work in
partnership on a new Private Sector Leasing Scheme (PSL).
Orchard & Shipman will supply a minimum of
62 self-contained quality properties obtained from the private
rented sector. In turn, this will meet the Council’s statutory duty
to provide suitable temporary accommodation to homeless
households.
Cllr Roger Rigby, portfolio holder for Adult
Services at Bedford Borough Council, said: “In these challenging
economic times, letting a home has become more desirable, and the
private rented sector is becoming a more vital part of the
Council’s housing strategy. This approach is about the Council
ensuring we fully harness the potential of private sector rented
property. It will improve service availability for some individuals
who would have otherwise been faced with homelessness if it had not
been for this scheme.”
The new PSL scheme will allow the Council to
lease properties from private landlords and other property owners
for periods of up to between 3 years initially. These homes are
then let to people who are homeless, with Orchard & Shipman
acting as the managing agent throughout the process.
John Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Orchard
& Shipman Group, said: “We are delighted to be working in
partnership with Bedford Borough Council to help them combat
homelessness throughout the borough, in a move that demonstrates
their commitment to identifying the best and right, solutions and
services for their constituents in an affordable and practical
way.”
The contract will be subject to regular review
and will officially start in January 2012. The Council’s existing
contract with Bpha comes to an end in March 2012.